Short range reduced targets: marksmanship training

This is a discussion on Short range reduced targets: marksmanship training within the Misc. forums, part of the Sniping Related category; jeffdorr recently mentioned reduced range targets to improve one's shooting here in this thread . As he said there, I did a thread on my ...

Short range reduced targets: marksmanship training

jeffdorr recently mentioned reduced range targets to improve one's shooting here in this thread. As he said there, I did a thread on my own forum awhile ago about this. In the interests of promoting marksmanship, I'll repost that thread here for you all.

In summary, I believe that marksmanship is the top priority for shooters, but has been lost over the years. A lot of people here will say "well duh!" but I'm here to tell everyone that slapping a scope on a rifle and poking holes in targets is almost never true marksmanship in the way that most people do it. Most shooters use the scope as a crutch to make up for their inadequacies and shortcomings.

Ask yourself this question: can you reliably hit a man-sized target at 300 yards using only iron sights?

Most people cannot. And that's why I created this thread on my own forum. If we are to be responsible shooters, true to ourselves and for the Americans, true to the Second Amendment, it's high time we see a return to the skills of our grandfathers.

The problem however, is increasing restrictions on where we can shoot. Back in the era of WW2 and Korea, which in my opinion, marked the height of marksmanship in America, it was easy enough to find a 500 yard range, or even a 1,000 yard one. You just went out in the sticks somewhere and shot! And while it's still legal in the United States to shoot anywhere outside of city limits with the property owner's permission, we shootin' Yanks have seen one of the downsides of our expansionism...There's just fewer places to shoot unless you know someone with land.

Thus, most of us are stuck with developed gun ranges, which are usually limited to 100 yards. For some, they're even limited to 50 yards or less! I don't know how many times I've seen guys here complain about being stuck with a 100 yard or less length range.

Enter the reduced target!

The idea behind a reduced target is to simulate the size of a man sized target as it would appear at a greater distance. For example, a man may appear to be a few inches high at 300 yards, so to simulate the size of a target at that distance, we simply do some basic math and make a target a few inches high to be placed at a shorter distance--commonly 25 or 50 yards/meters.

Doing so allows the people who are limited to pistol or 100 yard ranges to practice their long range marksmanship skills. Additionally, and perhaps most importantly, it allows practice without the effects of wind, drop, elevation changes and other variables that can make learning something exactly very difficult. Shooting reduced targets lets the shooter know when they made the mistake themselves and the missed shot was not caused by an environmental factor. Essentially, it's perfect feedback.

So I have gathered together several reduced military targets for the 25 and 50 yard/meter ranges. As Marines are the renowned marksmen of our Armed Forces, included are Marine Corps targets.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Instructions: Fire 20 rounds in two minutes from any position, including from a bench. The rifle can only be supported by your hands--no rests, bipods, sandbags, etc. Slings are allowed and are encouraged. Magnification cannot be used, and it is preferred that only iron sights are used; non-magnified optics, such as red dots, are acceptable.

These targets were meant for the AR-15 platform, but one may shoot these with whatever rifle they have as long as they follow the above rules.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------For the next target, follow the same rules as the above, with one exception: fire 10 rounds in up to 10 minutes from the prone position.

When printing these from Adobe Acrobat, be sure set "Page Scaling" to "None" on the print dialog page. Like this:

To be sure your targets are printing at the correct size, a 50 yard target will measure approximately 5.5" from top to bottom, and a 25 yard target will measure approximately 2.75" from top to bottom. If your targets are a different size, you will not have the correct simulated distance at the specified yardage.

Here is how the majority of "good" shooters will do at first:

Here are the desired result, after practice:

As I said above, shooting these targets will eliminate all variables except the guy behind the gun.

When pursuing any skill with the goal to achieve it to a high degree, one must proverbially crawl before they can run. Knowing how to range, compensate for bullet drop at distance or any value of wind are advanced considerations and all absolutely worthless if you don't posses basic marksmanship skill.

So I issue the challenge: anyone take any of the targets and follow the instructions for shooting at them. Scan or photograph your targets and post them here. If you can meet the criteria without aid of scopes or rests, using only your iron sights and body support in any position, you will earn the esteem of everyone here. There are no prizes and no expiration date; shoot the challenge whenever and as often as you like. This challenge is only for the honor of being able to shoot well.

So try it. It's not as easy and useless as it seems, and once you attempt this, you'll see exactly what I mean. It will be a humbling experience for most, and even frustrating. But only through accurate measurement of current skill can anyone expect to get better in the future.

Good luck!

ETA: I forgot to mention...Print the 25 yard target out and tape it up on the wall in your house so you can use it for dry fire practice. Dry firing is without a doubt, the single best way to improve your shooting skills, whether it be with rifles, handguns and whatever. Modern firearms can withstand having the firing pin dropped on an empty chamber, but bolt guns and old guns really ought to have a snap cap.

When you dry fire, please remember the following:

* MAKE SURE THE GUN IS UNLOADED! Check it, double check it, and check it again!

* Keep all ammo and loaded magazines away from the firearm when dry firing! It's second nature for a lot of us to just grab the mag and insert it without thinking about it.

* If possible, put the dry fire target on a wall that doesn't have anything behind it that really ought not get shot. ie: a wall adjacent to your neighbor's bedroom probably isn't the best place!

Hi

Great article Recoil.
Since I came here I never heard that someone is using irons for practicing. I believe that there is no better way to learn yourself to shoot than using irons. For the best results I would suggest using air gun rather than dry fire if possible or combination of those two (that would be best). I know I sound silly but air gun is the stuff.
Everything else Recoil said is just perfect! I mean everything is perfect I just wanted to add my opinion!
:roll:

"A wise man can learn more from a foolish question than a fool can learn from a wise answer." -- Bruce Lee

Re: Hi

For the best results I would suggest using air gun rather than dry fire if possible or combination of those two (that would be best). I know I sound silly but air gun is the stuff.

I agree; air guns are good for short range practice, especially indoors.

However, the problem with air guns is, you don't have the same trigger pull or weight and balance that you get with a real firearm. That's why I say, if you're training to shoot real guns, practice with real guns. Use air guns only to supplement your training (ie: get some trigger time when the weather is bad, when you're stuck at home and can't get to the range, etc.).

As I said, a real firearm is perfectly safe providing you do your part. After all, they are merely inanimate machines that require our interaction and stupidity to cause any damage. We have safety rules for a reason!

Modern firearms can withstand having the firing pin dropped on an empty chamber, but bolt guns and old guns really ought to have a snap cap.

Interresting read but I like to add rimfire rifles to this list of taking special care when dry firing. The only thing I know is that it isn't good for the gun because the firing pin will hit the back of the barrel.

Can someone tell me if it's good to use a fired cartridge in your rimfire rifle during dry firing? Does that eliminate the damage that would have been caused with an empty chamber?

When I first tried the reduced targets, I thought, jeez, this is stupid. After shooting the first target, I thought there must have been something wrong with the rifle.After the third try, I thought boy, do I ever stink at iron sight shooting.

A few days later,I tried it again with improved ammo.I had been using cheap Wolf steel cased ammo.It improved a little. Very little . Nope, it was me being a poor marksman. With a 5.56 H-Bar AR, no less. Now, If I have a free moment,and the weather here permits, I go and shoot more reduced targets.If I didn't like to shoot, then I'm on the wrong site.So I shoot some targets, have a good time,and improve my marksmanship skills. It's a win-win situation.

Jeff

Jeff passed away on July 17th, 2009, he will be GREATLY missed by everyone here at Sniper Central. VideoThread

" We cannot direct the wind,but we can adjust the sails." -Bertha Calloway

It really showed your mistakes. I bought one few years ago to pratice the basics. It works!

Precisely! Shooting something so close makes it blindingly obvious when you screw up. You can't blame "flyers" on the wind or anything else. If the hole isn't on the target, in the X ring, it was your fault and yours alone.

Only through accurate measurement of current skill can anyone expect to get better in the future.

I do want to make it clear though, that these reduced targets are meant to be fired at with real firearms, and NOT air rifles. You are of course, more than welcome to shoot your air rifles at them...You'll just probably have to move them closer, which will screw up the simulated ranges though.

Originally Posted by gunfan86

I like to add rimfire rifles to this list of taking special care when dry firing. The only thing I know is that it isn't good for the gun because the firing pin will hit the back of the barrel.

Ah, good call gunfan...Thanks for covering me! ops:

Originally Posted by jeffdorr

When I first tried the reduced targets, I thought, jeez, this is stupid. After shooting the first target, I thought there must have been something wrong with the rifle.After the third try, I thought boy, do I ever stink at iron sight shooting.

A few days later,I tried it again with improved ammo.I had been using cheap Wolf steel cased ammo.It improved a little. Very little . Nope, it was me being a poor marksman. With a 5.56 H-Bar AR, no less. Now, If I have a free moment,and the weather here permits, I go and shoot more reduced targets.If I didn't like to shoot, then I'm on the wrong site.So I shoot some targets, have a good time,and improve my marksmanship skills. It's a win-win situation.

Well said Jeff. Thanks for adding your experiences.

Jeff's experience is precisely why this exercise is so important.

Only through accurate measurement of current skill can anyone expect to get better in the future!

Re: Hi

For the best results I would suggest using air gun rather than dry fire if possible or combination of those two (that would be best). I know I sound silly but air gun is the stuff.

Good point.
I use a Gamo 440 .177 with a fixed BSA 4x40mm (came with) to practice trigger pull as well as stability. It's a great little air gun that is fun to shoot. Helps keep the squirrel population under control too.

I just tried the 25 yard target with a Marlin Model 60 .22 LR in 10 shot groups (only holds 14+1) and my groups look a whole lot similar to that first pic.

I will definately continue shooting at these targets, mostly with the .22, but also with the AR-15 when its not wet/misting outside.